The 2021 Cleveland City Council election was held on November 2, 2021. The primary elections were held on September 14, 2021. All 17 seats on Cleveland City Council were up for election for four-year terms. Elections in Cleveland are officially nonpartisan, with the top two candidates from the primary election advancing to the general election, regardless of party.[1]
Campaign signs for City Council and Mayoral candidates in Buckeye–Shaker
Councilwoman Marion Anita Gardner was appointed by Cuyahoga County Probate Judge Anthony Russo to fill the seat of indicted Councilman Ken Johnson. Gardner chose not to run for election to a full term.[5] Although he was legally barred from holding office, Johnson ran a campaign to regain his seat, though he would be eliminated in the primary.[6]
Ward 4 would elect Democratic precinct committeewoman Deborah A. Gray, the twin sister of councilwoman Delores Gray, who unsuccessfully ran for election to a full term in Ward 5.[7]
Councilwoman Delores Gray ran unsuccessfully for a full term after being appointed to fill the seat of retiring councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland. Gray would be unseated by Richard A. Starr, the director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland.[8]
^ abAxelrod, Ben; Carey, Tyler (November 2, 2021). "5 new members elected to Cleveland City Council, with 2 incumbents losing their seats". WKYC. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^ abcRichardson, Seth A. (June 16, 2021). "Eight file to run to succeed Mayor Frank Jackson in first open mayor's race since 2001". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
^ abcdefghij"September 14, 2021 Primary Election Official Results". Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. September 29, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
^ abcdefghijklmnopq"November 2, 2021 General Election UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS". Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. November 2, 2021. Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
^Higgs, Robert (June 7, 2021). "Cleveland City Council swears in Marion Anita Gardner to replace indicted Councilman Ken Johnson". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^Higgs, Robert (August 23, 2021). "Ken Johnson's felonies bar him from office, but he could still win the Cleveland Ward 4 election". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^ abAstolfi, Courtney (November 3, 2021). "Three women among Cleveland City Council's five new members". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^ abHlavaty, Kaylyn (November 3, 2021). "Rebecca Maurer and Richard Starr beat incumbents in Cleveland City Council races". WEWS-TV. Retrieved November 12, 2021.